“Alcohol (ethanol, ethyl alcohol) is usually made from starch, sugar and other carbohydrates by fermentation with yeast; also, synthetically from acetylene or ethylene. It is clear, colorless, very mobile, flammable liquid; a pleasant odor; burning taste; and miscible with water and with many organic liquids. It is hygroscopic and relatively nonionic. Ethanol has a slightly sweet taste and a characteristic aroma.”

“ethyl is the best-known alcohol and the one that concern us most, as it is the principal alcohol to be found in all alcoholic beverages.”

” There is no any difference between ethyl alcohol and ethanol. Both are the same thing except two different names.”

“Muslims don’t have to worry, if they find a food label statement which says “sugar alcohol.”

” The non- alcoholic drinks may not be entirely free from alcohol, as there is no known process that will extract all the alcohol from an alcoholic drink.(2) The small traces of alcohol make the labeling of the beverages an issue.”

“From the above discussion, it is clear all alcohols and liquors are not same. Some are intoxicants and some are not. Often, alcohol and liquor are used simply as a description. Therefore, Muslims should not be confused or worried with terminology. However, if any intoxicant liquor or alcohol is used in any product then we should avoid that product. In Islam, all intoxicants are Haram whether they are in liquid, solid or in any other form and in any quantity.”

“Ethanol CAN be obtained in foods through fermentation. Many fruits and/or other foods with sugars can ferment in the presence of yeast. However, this process normally doesn’t happen because the food would need to be in a container that allows CO2 to be released, yet keep oxygen out. Oxygen effectively stops the process. A good example of this is bread. Many leavened breads produce a small amount of ethanol through the yeast reactions.”

In order not to use synthetic additives to prolong the shelf-life of Pulmuone’s product, we use alcohol instead to prolong the shelf-life of the products for example rice cake, noodles and etc.

As the referred rice cake products (SOGA – in my email), from the total weight of the rice cake (which is 600gm of rice cake) 0.4% is the alcohol perused (about 2.4 gm). Most of it (volatile alcohol) will be removed (evaporated) after the cooking process (for example: after making the tteokbokki)

Most people who have alcohol allergy; in other words will not have any problem using the products (from Pulmuone) because of the alcohol level perused in the products.

We would be glad that you could use our products after the information given as reference.

Thank you”

Research 6

There is no one answer for all of our queries or our curiosities but the best way is to ask those who are knowledgeable in the area.

You may check out the National Fatwa site by Malaysian government here for alcohol in food issue and alcohol from Islamic perspective here.

I learned this before in fiqh halal haram during my university time. Even doughnut when it ferment,will release alcohol, its about chemical reaction. In fact in Islam, alcohol is not forbidable when use in appropriate amount. People always confuse with liquor and alcohol. All liquor contains alcohol in high amount which will later destroy our body system. Alcohol is just like other chemicals as if its used excessively will make one body sick

Anonymous

Salam to all.i was called to share some of my knowledge on alcohol and liquor issue here.btw, for your information, pulmuone is one of the food manufacturer in korea who does concern and look into halal.i am working in a halal science lab in malaysia, and we hv received quite a number of pulmuine sampke for halal testing all the wsy from korea sent by the company themselves.a few of their product were recognized by jakim halal.

back to alcohol and liquor, what sungrin mentioned earlier is true. Alcohol is unavoidable in food manufacturing but excessive use will prone to make the product haram.even alcohol will form through fermentation.but, things tht really haram is when you used liquor in the process, or khamr we call it, or arak in malay.in example, if they use liquor or wine in preserving the rice cake, then it is totally haram.however if they use food grade ethanol, then the product should be ok.provided that, the content of alcohol does not exceeded the cut off limit of the alcohol by different country. As jn malaysia, the accepted limit of alcohol content must not be more than 1%, if im not mistaken.(as of info of2013). So wheteher the rice cake is haram or not, as claimed by pulmuone, they used alcohol at 0.4%, not the wine or liquor, then insya allah it should be ok.since I knew how this company try their best to meet to halal food, I hv more confident.i hope this help.